Why light sensitivity increases in mid-stage dementia

Light sensitivity often increases in mid-stage dementia due to a combination of neurological changes affecting the brain’s processing of visual information and alterations in the eyes themselves. As dementia progresses, especially in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia, the…

How familiar spaces suddenly feel unsafe to people with memory loss

People with memory loss often find that spaces they once knew well suddenly feel unfamiliar and unsafe because their brain struggles to recognize and interpret the environment around them. This unsettling experience arises from difficulties in spatial awareness, navigation, and…

Why Alzheimer’s patients sometimes refuse to sit down

Alzheimer’s patients sometimes refuse to sit down because of a complex mix of physical, emotional, and cognitive factors related to the progression of the disease. This behavior is often a form of restlessness or agitation, which can stem from confusion,…

What to expect from early cognitive testing

Early cognitive testing is a process designed to evaluate how well your brain is functioning in areas such as memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and other thinking skills. When you undergo early cognitive testing, you can expect a series of assessments…

Why so many with dementia talk about going “home”

Many people living with dementia often talk about going “home” because this expression reflects deep emotional needs rather than a literal desire to return to a physical place. When someone with dementia says they want to go home, they are…

How hormone therapy may support spatial awareness

Hormone therapy can play a significant role in supporting spatial awareness by influencing the brain’s function and structure, particularly through the action of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Spatial awareness is the ability to understand and interact with the environment…

What brain patterns show when language begins to fail

When language begins to fail, the brain exhibits distinct patterns of altered activity and connectivity that reflect the breakdown of normal language processing. These patterns often involve disruptions in the brain regions responsible for speech production, comprehension, and the integration…

Why people forget birthdays but remember routines

People often forget birthdays but remember routines because of how the brain processes and prioritizes information. Routines are repeated actions tied to daily life and survival, so they become deeply ingrained habits supported by strong neural pathways. Birthdays, on the…

How Alzheimer’s rewires the way we hear familiar sounds

Alzheimer’s disease profoundly changes how the brain processes familiar sounds, effectively rewiring the auditory experience of those affected. This rewiring is not just a simple loss of hearing ability but a complex alteration in how the brain interprets, filters, and…

Why mirror images are confusing in memory loss

Mirror images can be especially confusing for people experiencing memory loss because the brain’s ability to recognize and interpret visual information becomes impaired, and mirror images add an extra layer of complexity to this process. When we look at a…